St Martin’s 2, Bels 1
VIJAY WILTSHIRE scored with the last kick of the game at Blanche Pierre Lane as St Martin’s boosted their hopes of pipping North for runner-up spot in the Priaulx championship.
Bels’ defeat was only their third in 21 league starts and came out of the blue as into stoppage time the fullback collected the ball wide on the left and his intended cross sailed high into the net just below the connection of post and crossbar.
Not that Bels, who were applauded onto the pitch by Saints’ human tunnel, will be overly bothered, with the championship secure and bigger fish to fry in the closing weeks of the season.
Saints were certainly pumped up, though, and their performance highlighted again that they are only a hot-shot striker short of being a decent side.
All the goals came in the second half, Chris King missing a penalty on the verge of half-time which should have given the visitors the half-time advantage.
Skipper Kevin Graham was rightly adjudged to have tripped Marc Laws as he tried to stop the quicker American, but for some odd reason Bels’ reserve right-back took the spot kick ahead of the recognised forwards and dragged a poor penalty wide of Nathan Pattimore’s right-hand post.
It had generally been a quiet first half, with Saints playing on the break into a stiff wind and creating the better chances.
Scott Rowe made a couple of decent blocks to deny Craig Farnham and Chris Mauger.
After half-time, Simon Marley wasted two good chances, the second of which was a particularly bad miss after a fine cross by Laws, but on 61min. Saints went ahead.
Leighton Chainey misjudged a bouncing ball which he should have got a head to and in a flash Farnham had been fed and laid on the square pass for Mauger to finish well with a shot into the bottom corner.
Saints’ lead lasted precisely seven minutes.
Joby Bourgaize swung the ball in from the left touchline near the corner flag and Billy Page stole in front of a dozy defence to volley the equaliser.
Tempers frayed in the closing stages and referee Neil Lunn dished out a number of yellow cards as well as scrubbing out a second Mauger goal for offside.
But with the game destined for a draw, Wiltshire’s hit-and-hope effort sailed in and there was time only for the restart before the whistle went.
Article posted on 10th March, 2008 - 2.29pm
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